Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
4 Nov 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
11
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
In 2019 after coming back home from 8 years working and learning furniture making in Scotland . I bought an old wreck of a building behind our house. My idea is to renovate this building and create art and craft workshops. And turn it into a kind of hub for the local community. The first phase of the renovation is now completed. That includes the accommodation space , big shared terrace and exterior thermal insulation of the building. The woodwork shop is almost done as well. The plan is to create a blacksmith workshop, pottery shop, textile workshop, printmaking studio and jewelry workshop . The building have a very large and deep basement which was flooded for many years . We managed to pump most of the water out. But still there is a shallow layer of muddy water on the bottom that needs to be cleared ( As of August 2025 this last job with the basement is already complete). You can find videos of the project in YouTube - ask us the link
Or you can join our group on Facebook - ask us the link
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Technology
Sustainability
Culture
Events & social
Farming
Plant care
Carpentry
Art & design
Animals
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Camping
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Guest can spend as much time as they wish with me and my family. Explore the Rhodope mountains around the village of Smilyan ( there are lots of caves , trails and other poits of interest. ) I the local town of Smolyan there are museums, galleries and library. I could also teach people woodwork skills and show them the local wildlife.
Help
Renovation/ building work . Painting . Clearing and rearranging. Woodwork projects in the shop . General maintenance. I most cases I will be working with my guests. Last year my father retired so he does help when He can , but usually I am on my own . So I could realy do with an extra pair of hands . The variety of jobs needing done is huge and I am running out of steam . The last 4 years I haven't really had a break.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Russian: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
I do have some basic Russian knowledge from school . I would like to freshen it up a bit .
Accommodation
There are 3 small attic rooms, sharing a bathroom . And a double room with a separate bathroom . Below on the terrace there is a big kitchen , where we can prepare the meals and share them on the big table . On the terrace there is also a library, TV and a home Cinema.
What else ...
There is public transport to town . And I can provide a push bike for exploring the village. And if needed I can give a lift with my car to local places of interest .
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is free internet on site . Comfy Home Cinema reclining chairs . Spacious cool terrace with a library and a kitchen .
Space for parking camper vans
There is a space for any size camper to park right next to The project.
Can possibly accept pets
Outdoor pets only
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (5)
Welcome to come again ! Came as volunteer , left as friend .
Radenko is a nice person who really want to make you comfortable, his parents are amazing and I loved to chat with them as much as we could!
Work wise, there's stuff to do and even if Radenko is a hard working person… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
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Welcome to come again ! Came as volunteer , left as friend .
Radenko is a nice person who really want to make you comfortable, his parents are amazing and I loved to chat with them as much as we could!
Work wise, there's stuff to do and even if Radenko is a hard working person… read more
I spent 17 incredible days at Radenko’s place, we came with Charline, my girlfriend, for 3 reasons (Radenko, his project and place) we leave with tons others to come back !
The place is such a nice restored building link with village history. Radenko have decided to build something very beautiful.
Terrace is an… read more
I had my own cozy bedroom and shared bathroom. I also enjoyed the terrace and kitchen, the masterpiece of this… read more
I wouldn't expect anything more from a workawayer. Any host would be super lucky to get him .
The place we are renovating is called 'the pruifer', a rebuild of an exisiting building that used to be just that, a purifer.
The project has been to turn this old place with alot of history into a… read more
